Jack Miller spent the entire day testing Yamaha’s new V4 bike at Tuesday’s Valencia MotoGP session, finishing 20th overall, just 1.491 seconds off the pace set by Raul Fernandez from Australia. After initially riding the inline models earlier this season, Pramac riders focused on fine-tuning their prototype V4 machines during the test.
Miller’s top lap came late in the session on lap 49 out of 51. He was notably impressed by teammate Fabio Quartararo, who recorded a 1:29.927 lap time on the V4, only half a second behind Fernandez. Most teams had limited time to work due to the drying track conditions, but Yamaha and their four factory riders had a private test day in Valencia on Wednesday.
Reflecting on his debut day with the V4, Miller said the experience was positive overall, though there remain areas for improvement in bike feedback and setup. He emphasized the importance of the upcoming test day to refine the machine and prepare for Malaysia. This new project primarily involved getting familiar with the bike and making it suit his riding style. Miller plans to focus on understanding cause and effect changes with the bike on the following day and try out new ideas.
He praised Quartararo’s fast lap, noting that it’s impressive given the V4 engine is still running at relatively low power. Miller believes the V4’s potential outweighs the inline option and sees the promising lap times as an encouraging sign. He also highlighted the need for more work on electronics, like throttle control and traction control, to optimize performance and responsiveness.
Test rider Augusto Fernandez had recently finished 16th on the V4 in his wildcard race entry but struggled with front-end feedback—an issue Miller admits requires several improvements. Coming from the M1’s exceptional front-end feel, the V4 feels like a step backward in that area, but Miller is optimistic that with a clear development direction, the handling will improve.
Additionally, Miller’s new teammate, Toprak Razgatlioglu, the reigning World Superbike Champion, posted the 18th fastest time in his first official MotoGP test. Miller expressed interest in hearing Toprak’s feedback on the bike and tyre performance, which could prove valuable for future development.
Fan Take: This update is exciting for racing fans as it shows Yamaha’s commitment to evolving their MotoGP technology with the V4 platform. Miller and Quartararo’s promising lap times hint at a potentially strong contender in future races, signaling an intriguing shift in the competitive dynamics of the championship.
